December 2017 Monthly Newsleteter
DECEMBER TASTING EVENTS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17th - 1:00 to 4:00pm
OUR 10th ANNUAL - often imitated, never equaled
Champagne and Sparkling Wine Tasting
Enjoy an eclectic selection and make purchases at a discount.
WINE TASTING EVERY SATURDAY 2:00pm-7:00pm
“Whatever we feel like openingâ€
The Last Saturday Wine School
THEME: – Sparkling wine
With the New Year upon us we’ll taste and learn about Champagne & sparkling wines like Cava and Prosecco. The last Saturday of the month changes from a “whatever we feel like drinking†tasting event to a mini wine school tasting. We’ll pick a topic, theme, etc. and taste with a purpose! The wines we taste will be offered as a package with a discount. This is very informal with no scheduled start or finish time. Each session will be about 10 minutes! Come anytime between 2 and 5 pm on Saturday, 12/30.
Please note that there will be NO “SHORT SIPS†Class in December. Short Sips will resume in January
A SPECIAL OFFER: 2014 Castello La Leccia Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
Castello La Leccia is an ancient village about a mile to the south of Castellina in Chianti, perched on a hill at 1,476 ft. The estate of some 180 hectares, with about 20 hectares of vineyards, dates back at least as far as 1077, and was a Florentine outpost in the 16th century owned by the Ricasoli family. The vineyard is organically farmed, without synthetic herbicides or pesticides, and the wine is 100% Sangiovese.
“I am impressed by these new releases from Castello La Leccia. Despite the vintage hardships, the 2014 Chianti Classico (100% Sangiovese) is a graceful and proper wine. It shows a bright level of freshness with cherry and wild berry. It also offers a high level of drinkability and would surely pair with grilled meats or barley soup. This Chianti Classico ends with a bright spot of fresh acidity. There’s lots of bright primary fruit on hand.†(WA 233) Regular price: $21.99, On sale in Dec.: $18.49 (no further discounts)
A SPECIAL OFFER: NV Champagne Pierre Launay Selection Brut
A great deal on a delicious grower/maker Champagne (farmer fizz!)
“Pierre Launay” was created by Pierre Launay and his wife, in 1973. The first vines were planted in 1967. The company is now run by Pierre’s 3 sons Lionel, Jérôme and Laurent. They have vineyards of 14 hectares with two-thirds in Barbonne Fayel and Broyes (in the Marne department) and the remaining third in Loches sur Ource and Buxeuil in the Cote des Bar (the Barséquanais region).
(50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir)Pale gold. Fresh and subtle nose of Chardonnay on fruity, floral notes, evolving towards more complexity like gingerbread, brioche. The texture is frank and ample. A seductive wine.
Regular price $39.99 ON Sale in December: $32.99 (no further discounts)
NEW ARRIVALS – Bordeaux
The 2015 vintage is great, BUT drinking those wines now, with a few lower priced exceptions, would be imprudent. The wines from 2010, another great vintage, are approaching maturity. Their time is NOW!
2010 Clos Marsalette Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France - “A fresh, elegant style, with a lively mesquite and sanguine spine that cuts through the silk-textured damson plum, cherry and blackberry fruit. The long, mineral-tinged finish glides on with allure and grace. Best from 2014 through 2028.’ (WS 2013) $47.99
2010 Chateau D’Arcie, Saint-Emillon Grand Cru, Bordeaux France – An aromatic, delicious, well balanced wine with rustic aromas of black fruits cassis and hints of tea and mint. Medium to full bodied and savory on the palate, it finishes with refined tannins. Pair with rack of Lamb. $23.99
NEW ARRIVALS - PIEDRSASSI
Since 2003 Sashi Moorman and his wife, Melissa, have been making great, restrained, Northern Rhone-style Syrah in the Lompac wine Ghetto in Santa Barbara under the Piedrasassi label. The focus of Piedrasassi’s wine program is cool climate Syrah with vineyard sites for Piedrasassi ranging from Ballard Canyon in the east to the Santa Rita Hills and Arroyo Grande in the west. They are exceptional wines produced in tiny quantities.
2014 Piedrasassi Red Wine Harrison Clarke Vineyard, Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara CA.-“The 2014 Red Wine Harrison Clarke Vineyard, a blend of equal parts Syrah and Mourvèdre, is one of the most floral and red tone wines in this lineup. Intense, floral aromatics meld into a core of red-fleshed stone fruits, with attractive savory and spiced overtones that develop in the glass. The 2014 will offer plenty of pleasure over the next handful of years.†(Vinous AG 9/16) 180 cases $39.99
2016 Piedrasassi Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA – Their basic wine sourced from several cool climate sites. It’s restrained, gracious and medium bodied with notes of lavender and spice on a polished finish. $25.99
AND while we are talking west coast Syrah here is a library release, delicious Syrah from Columbia Valley:
2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Syrah “Ethosâ€, Columbia Valley WA – “The purple-colored Ethos Syrah offers up a complex perfume of pepper, bacon, smoked meat, blueberry, and blackberry jam. Full-bodied and smooth-textured on the palate, it has layers of savory blue and black fruit, plenty of spice, & excellent depth & concentration. This flavorful, lengthy effort will evolve for 1-2 years and drink well through 2018.†(WA 185) $26.99
OK you had me at Passito: 2016 GRAN APPASSO ROSSO PASSITO, Puglia Italy
From Puglia (Italy’s heel), this is a blend of Primitivo and Negroamaro, the grapes are hand-picked and dried before pressing like Amarone (Passito means raisin). So you have this rich, fruit driven, silky wine with plenty of structure that borders on the sensuous without going over the top. If you are an Amarone or California Zinfandel lover you should try a bottle and pair it with ribs. $16.99
MONTHLY SPECIALS
Dec 2017 | Usual | Case (cs.btl cost) |
|
---|---|---|---|
*2016 Dal Maso Cabernet, Colli Berici, Veneto, Italy | $ 8.99 | $11.99 | $ 96 ($ 8.00) |
*2016 Di Lenardo Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy | $ 9.99 | $12.99 | $108 ($ 9.00) |
*2015 Chateau Moulinat Rouge, Bordeaux, France | $10.99 | $12.99 | $114 ($ 9.50) |
*2016 Guindon Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire, France | $10.99 | $12.99 | $120 ($10.00) |
2014 Parxet Cava Brut "Cuvee 21", Alella, Spain | $12.99 | $15.99 | $144 ($12.00) |
2014 Stephen Vincent Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, California | $12.99 | $15.99 | $144 ($12.00) |
2014 Rimbert AOC Saint-Chinian "Les Travers de Marceau", France | $12.99 | $14.99 | $144 ($12.00) |
2015 Lar de Paula Blanco, Rioja, Spain | $13.99 | $16.99 | $156 ($13.00) |
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